View Full Version : Texas-landowner pays taxes on easement under name of different owner-how to acquire?
janeled
Apr 19, 2011, 03:25 PM
We are in Chambers County and own approx .26 acre w/home... we have an that provides a roadway to our property. This easement is listed under the name of a different owner but we pay the taxes on this property. Is there a way to acquire ownership of this property? We are currently unable to find any address (under tax records) for the owners.
Your help would be good. Thanks.
ScottGem
Apr 19, 2011, 03:28 PM
How long have you lived there? Why are you paying property taxes on land you don't own? Does the adjoining property own the easement?
janeled
Apr 19, 2011, 03:32 PM
janeled Apr 19, 2011 03:32 pm We bought the property in 2007 (July)... since this is the easement road to our home, the abstract company told us about the easement, I'll have to ask my husband how we came to pay the property taxes on this piece. I do not believe that our adjoining property owner owns the easement either. I hope this helps. We and our neighbors all mow the easement and keep it up so travel can be done on the road to our homes.
ScottGem
Apr 19, 2011, 04:20 PM
First, please use the Answer options for follow-up questions or info, not Comments.
An easement needs to be included in your deed. Not just told about it. Generally an easement is permission to use someone else's land for a specific purpose. The easement itself is not owned by the owner of adjoining land. So someone bordering the road probably owned it at some time. It may have been lost in time. The title company should be able to tell you the history.
Fr_Chuck
Apr 19, 2011, 07:25 PM
And paying the taxes merely keep the current owners "owning" the property, if the taxes had not been paid and it sold at a tax sale, you could have bought it there.